First Mining Drc-Zambia July/Aug 2019 First Mining DRC-ZAMBIA July-August 2019 digital | Page 22

FEATURE Reagents are the most important part of the flotation process. In the early stage of the development of the flotation process, the major advances were due to better flotation reagents. In developing a treatment process, much time, energy and attention is spent on the selection of reagents to give the most effective separation and concentration results. In commercial plants, the control of reagent additions is the most important part of the flotation strategy. Modern classification of the reagents is based on the function of a particular reagent. On this basis, reagents are divided into collectors, frothers, regulators and depressants. Several thousands of chemicals were either tested or suggested as flotation reagents. Nowadays, there are only a few hundred of these reagents that are extensively used in flotation. Flotation reagents for mining applications In the mining industry, cyanide is primarily used for leaching gold and silver from ores, but it is also used in low concentration as a flotation reagent for the recovery of base metals such as copper, lead, and zinc. S Froth flotation is the most widely used industrial process for the separation of finely liberated minerals. The process involves the aeration of minerals in water in the presence of flotation reagents, which facilitate the attachment of air bubbles to and levitation of select minerals. ome of the challenges facing the flotation of base metal sulphides are the opening of new and varying ore bodies as well as maintaining essential skills in plants. There is thus not only a need to develop new and exciting chemicals, but also a need to produce robust chemicals that are tolerant to these changes. In the quest to produce practical flotation reagents robust enough to cope with these changes while still optimizing grade and recovery, there are a few interesting reagent combinations. SUN ACE South Africa Mining Chemicals Range CODE MATERIAL PURITY USAGE AIBT Allyl Isobutyl Thionocar- bamate 84% Collector. Excellent selectivity and separating performance for copper ores. Also for copper-zinc sulphide ores. DTP Sodium Diisobutyl Dithiophosphate 50% Collector in fl oating of copper, zinc, sulphides and precious metals with good selectivity. Good suppressor of iron pyrites during alkali circuits. Preferable in multi-ore fl oatation. MIBC Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol 99% Frother. IPETC Isopropyl Ethyl Thiono- carbamate 95% Excellent collector for fl otation of copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum sulphides. NASH Sodium Hydrosulphide 70% Copper Floatation. PAX Potassium Isoamyl Xanthate 90% Flotation of sulphide metallic ore. Very strong fl otation chemical. SIBX Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate 90% or 85% Flotation of sulphide metallic ore. SMBT Sodium Mercaptobenzo- thiazole 50% Vulcanization accelerator in the rubber industry. Collector in fl otation of sulphide ore and some oxidized ores. STG Sodium Thioglycolate 35% Flotation reagent. It has the same effect as sodium cyanide to pyrite, copper, galena and molybdenum ores. Low toxicity, easy to separate and waste water is not hazardous. Type of depilatory. SEX Sodium Ethyl Xanthate 90% Flotation of sulphide metallic ore. SNPX Sodium N-Propyl Xanthate 90% Flotation of sulphide metallic ore. SUN ACE dc-Zambia MAG Advert.indd 1 20 SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY MINING CHEMICALS XANTHATES | FROTHERS | COLLECTORS FLOTATION REAGENTS | NASH Suppliers of xanthates, frothers and collectors to the mining industry, including copper, gold, zinc, lead and other sulphide metallic ores. Email: [email protected] ● Call: [phone]/08/2019 11:09 am www.fmdrc-Zambia.com